Min focus changes with zoom

On my little digital camera I have an optical zoom and I switch off the
digital zoom.

The camera can autofocus on an object with the lens set to Wide.
But if I don't change position and zoom out to the maxiumum Tele lens
then it will not focus unless I move a long way back.

In the old days when I had a 35mm SLR, ISTR that the zoom on the lens
did not change the minumum fcous distance.

So why does this happen with a modern compact camera?

Is it something to do with the fact that "macro mode" is now no lomger a
separately adjusted lens setting. In other words, the zoom moves in and
out of Macro Mode as if there was no separate Macro Mode anymore.


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For more detail, the full manual is at:
ftp://ftp.casio.co.jp/pub/world_manual/qv/en/EXZ60_e.pdf 6MB

Page 86: Macro mode is from 10cm to 50cm.

"Sammy" <no-one.DeleteThis@no-where.com> wrote in message
news:Xns9837E786D2B65451E7A@127.0.0.1...
> On my little digital camera I have an optical zoom and I switch off the
> digital zoom.
>
> The camera can autofocus on an object with the lens set to Wide.
> But if I don't change position and zoom out to the maxiumum Tele lens
> then it will not focus unless I move a long way back.
>
> In the old days when I had a 35mm SLR, ISTR that the zoom on the lens
> did not change the minumum fcous distance.
>
> So why does this happen with a modern compact camera?
>
> Is it something to do with the fact that "macro mode" is now no lomger a
> separately adjusted lens setting. In other words, the zoom moves in and
> out of Macro Mode as if there was no separate Macro Mode anymore.
>
>
> ----
>
> For more detail, the full manual is at:
> ftp://ftp.casio.co.jp/pub/world_manual/qv/en/EXZ60_e.pdf 6MB
>
> Page 86: Macro mode is from 10cm to 50cm.
What you have is a vari focal lens. The focus point changes with a change
in focal length.

The reason is quite simple. Vari focal lenses are cheaper to design and
make. Such lenses have been around for a very long time (mainly the less
expensive makes).

Jim